DCTA looks to address overcrowding with new UNT routes

DCTA looks to address overcrowding with new UNT routes

The Denton County Transportation Authority is considering changing UNT bus routes to help with overcrowding issues. The proposed changes look to create more campus circulation.

DCTA is seeking public feedback before the proposed routes can go into effect in August 2018.

Officials held a public hearing on April 18 to gather opinions on the changes.

“The only problem is that it gets really crowded,” said Manasi Ramadurgum UNT Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science student. “Sometimes it is hard to find a seat.”

The changes would make the Eagle Point route UNT-centric. The new route, if selected, will allow Eagle Point to serve Maple, Kerr, Honors and Victory Halls. It will also create a single-bus ride from Victory Hall to the General Academic Building and the Union.

Currently, students have to switch buses when riding from Victory Hall to the Union or the General Academic Building. The changes will raise the seven-minute frequency time for buses to 20 minutes.

“Another great benefit is that it will provide another campus circulator,” said Adrienne Hamilton, communications manager at DCTA. “Right now, the Mean Green circuit serves as the only campus circulator going from Fouts Field to the Union. This will help provide some relief from the congestion that has been happening on the Mean Green.”

The current campus shuttles include Mean Green, North Texan, Eagle Point, Discovery Park, Center Place, Bernard Street, Colorado Express and Sam Bass. The Sam Bass shuttle will no longer be in operation if these proposals are put into action.

A total of 1,199,128 students boarded the campus shuttles from October 2017 to March 2018. Hamilton said the changes to Eagle Point are based on student complaints and collaborations with UNT transportation.

“We work strategically with North Texas, especially the transportation department, so the changes we are making are in response to student suggestions and strategic efforts on both UNT and DCTA to help improve ridership and better serve the UNT student population,” Hamilton said.

Trista Moxley, the senior communications specialist for UNT Transportation, said UNT contracts all of their routes with DCTA. All the bus drivers are DCTA employees and all the routes are the result of regular meetings between the two organizations.

Students said it takes an extended period of time to ride to lot 20 from Victory Hall, then switch buses to go to the Union. UNT Transportation also received several complaints of overcrowding on the Mean Green shuttle.

“Any change that we make, including this one, we want it to help our students have less stress about getting to class on time,” Moxley said.

Another proposed change involves Route 8. The change would allow for better connectivity with the A-train and direct service between the Downtown Denton Transit Center and UNT. The new route would also serve the south side of campus.

UNT students can ride the Route 7 and 8 buses for free if they present their student identification.

DCTA is also looking to increase the regional fare by 20 percent in August 2018. The transportation organization wants to remain a part of the regional fare system, which gives riders access to the Metroplex transit system with one pass.

DCTA is seeking alternatives and no changes to local fares are planned.